The Hour Has Come

This is to improve matters concerning podcasting or go with the podcast is help you to try to find your way in this difficult world.

Your chosen Truth Network podcast of starting just seconds.

Enjoy it, share it, but most of all, thank you for listening and choosing The Truth Podcast Network.

This is the Truth Network do you feel like you're on a religious treadmill like Christianity is just a system of rules and regulations, I can do this but I can't do that. Do you feel like your efforts to reach God. Find God, and please God do you feel like your faith is dead or alive today. Pastor Russ Sanders will walk us through Scripture to answer these questions join us on finding purpose of local tribal ministry glorifying God by helping men find their purpose for living.

For more information and to connect with Russ Andrews and finding purpose could visit us online@findingpurpose.net or connect with us on Facebook. Now let's listen to Russ Andrews as he teaches us how to be a Christian without being religious. Your son into this world to be the perfect Lamb of God who died for the sins of the world will. We thank you for the cross we cling to the cross without the cross.

So there would be no hope for any of us to load. We praise you for the cross.

We thank you for your willingness to submit to your father's will and go to the cross take upon yourself. Our sins we love you Lord Jesus, we thank you for bringing us here tonight and I pray Lord that your award will go forth now and accomplish the purpose for which you intend knowing that I pray, amen my little talk about the cross see from the moment Jesus was born, he lived and moved according to his father's plan, according to God's time schedule. John chapter 7 verses one through eight says after this Jesus when running deli purposely staying away from Judea because the Jews there were what he did take his life. But when the Jewish feast of Tabernacles was near Jesus's brothers came up him and said I guess they were there were mocking him. You will leave here and go to Judea so that your disciples may see the miracles you do know what he wants to become a public figure X, and sacred.

Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world. But even his own brothers did not believe in him.

Therefore Jesus told him the right time for me is not cut yet, but you any time is right. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that what it does is evil. You go to the feast. I'm not going up to this feast because for me the right time is not yet come in John chapter 12 verses 23 and 27 Jesus said the hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say father, save me from this hour know it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name.

See one thing we learn about the Bible from the Bible about God is that he is a God of order precision and timeliness. He does everything according to his divine plan that was conceived in his mind before he even created the world a moose history along bus providential will and sovereign power.

He is in total control which well-wishers were about what tonight the election after all history is his story. All of God's actions occur based upon his schedule, his divine clock he's never ahead of time. And guess what is never late. JI Packer said he knows and four knows all things in his foreknowledge is for ordination. He therefore will have the last word. But in world history, and in the destiny of every man to not stress is entitled, the hour has come men. This was the very hour that the Son of Man would bring glory to his heavenly father and this was the hour for which Jesus was born, don't you take your Bibles and turn with me to Mark chapter 15.

Let's look at this hour, beginning with verse 21 we read that a certain man from siring Simon the father of Alexander and Rufus was passing by on his way in from the country and they forced him to cure the cross. They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha, which means the place of the skull. Then I offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it, and they crucified him dividing up his close they cast lots to see what each would get. It was the third hour it's not in the morning they crucified him.

The written notice of the charge against him. Read the King of the Jews they crucified two robbers with him.

One was right and one on his left some of you may have noticed in some of your your your chapters there that verse 28 is not listed there and the reason is that some manuscripts don't contain a particular verse. In some doing this the verse that is left out in most manuscripts in the Scripture was fulfilled which says he was number with the transgressors. Those who pass by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying so you will go so you who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, come down from the cross to save yourself in the same way, the chief priest and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. He saved others, they said, buddy can't save himself, let this Messiah risking a visual come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe you think they would've believed her when Jesus said even if a man were to rise from the database do not believe that he later did what rose from the dead. Those crucified with him also heaped insults him him and the six hour that would be nine darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour and at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice LOL llama Sabbath Tommy which means my God, my God, why have you forsaken me with some other standing near nearby heard this, they said list. He's calling out to Elijah one man red ran filled a sponge with wine vinegar put on a stick and offered it to Jesus to drink now, leave them alone.

This ecologic comes to take him down. He said with a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. And at that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom and with the centurion who stood there in front of Jesus saw how he.he said surely this man was the son of God. It's not what I want to do another many times I will show you why this hour was and is the most important hour in the history of the world. First, this hour fulfilled the most important prophecies found in Scripture. Second this out this hour open the door way to heaven. Third, this hour both satisfied the justice of God and appeased his wrath forth this hour men resulted in the redemption of mankind, and finally, this hour makes it possible for any man to come to the very presence of God and have peace with him.

This hour is the most important hour in the history of the world because of one object was that object. The cross, the crucifixion is the climax of history.

AW Tojo said the cross of Christ is the most revolutionary thing ever to appear among men in his the first truth that I will resolve to focus on God prophesied about the cross in the very beginning in Genesis chapter 3 verse 15 which is known as the proto- Gilly on which means the first gospel. We found the very first mention of the gospel in the Bible in this one verse with ACC the entire gospel but we learn in this verse that after Adam and Eve sin.

God judge the world to judge the woman and what childbirth he judge the man and his wife work. He judge the earth. And he also judge the serpent in Genesis 315 we see exactly how God judge Satan got sick to the site to Satan, the serpent and I will put enmity between you and the woman in between your seed and hers. He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel. So right here man.

We see war breaking out between the seed of the woman in the seat of the serpent.

Let me ask you a question. Can you see a veiled reference to the cross. In this verse.

Let me try to explain it first. Who exactly is the seed of the woman. By the way this worked at Cedars singular person appointed Jesus go to got the gospel of Luke chapter 3 and you'll see that Luke traces the lineage of Christ all the way back to Eve.

Galatians 44 says that when the time had fully come, God sent his son, born of a hood woman, a virgin, Isaiah 714 says therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign the virgin will be with child and give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel, which means what God with us… This miraculous sign to all mankind was that this child was the promisee of the woman that's what the virgin birth was all about. It was a sign from God that this baby Jesus was the promised Messiah. He was the promise seed of the woman in Genesis 315 God told the serpent and you will strike his heel. Some translations say you will bruise his heel.

So when did this happen. It happened when those Roman soldiers took those those wrought our nails and drove them through the wrist of Jesus and through his heels, and it was a bruising blow, but it was not a fatal blow. Why because three days later, Jesus did what he rose from the grave. You see the cross Jesus was victorious over see in death and Satan, the seed of the woman delivered delivered a fatal blow to the seed of the serpent. When Jesus crushed his head where at the cross. Colossians 315 says and having this on the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them tromping over them by the cross slimming asking can you see the gospel message in Genesis 315.

Do you understand why it's now call the proto- Gilly on the first gospel is the first mention of the gospel in the Bible and the gospel is all about the cross never loose sight of the cross because your salvation and my salvation depended upon what Jesus would do on the cross notice. I want to share with you a few more prophecies that were fulfilled from the Old Testament.

At the cross and I want you to really notice the accuracy of Scripture.

This is when you really begin to realize how supernatural the Bible is that it was God breathed, it was inspired by the Holy Spirit in Psalm 22 verse 18 which is written a thousand years before the birth of Christ. David wrote they divide my garments among them, and cast lots for my clothing. Mark 15 verse 24 says dividing up is closely cast lots to see what each would get in Isaiah chapter 53 verse 12 700 years before the birth of Christ. Isaiah prophesied he was numbered with the transgressors. More 15 verse 27 says they crucified two robbers with him one on his right and one on his left. Psalm 22 verses six through eight David writes but I'm a worm and not a man scorned by man and despised by the people, all who see me mock me. They hurl insults, shaking their heads.

He trusts in the Lord, let the Lord rescue him, let him deliver him, since he delights in him, Mark 15 versus 29 through 32, says those who pass by, hurl insults at him, shaking their heads and say so usual going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, come down from the cross and save yourself in the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mock him among themselves. He saved others, they said, but he can't save himself, let this Messiah the key. This king of Israel come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe in those who were crucified beside him, also heat insults on him. In Psalm 22 verse 16 David said they have pierced my hands and my feet. Mark records frozen 15 verse 24 and they crucified him to see the accuracy of Scripture that there's no other religious book in the world. It contains predictive prophecy that the Quran not the religious books of Hinduism and Buddhism, not the sayings of Confucius, not the book of Mormonism.

No other religion has a book like the Bible. Let me pause for a moment and remind you again to Psalm 22 was written around 1000 BC Rome did not come into existence for another 250 to 300 years and it was the Romans who perfected crucifixion into the most horrible type of execution an evil mind can conceive and appoints men to the depravity of the human heart.

The condemned criminal was discouraged use of the place of execution for secure the cross-claim to the spot where Paul had been erected. His criminal charge was then written a plaque and nailed above his head on the pole.

The prisoner was commonly toddle sometimes nailed to the cross-claim with the nails hammer through his the rest of the criminal since the bones in the hand cannot support the weight. The beam was then raised and fixed to the upright pole. If the executions wished a particularly slow and agonizing death.

You know they did they would put place a block on the pole where you could sit or place for you feet to support. She death came about through loss of blood circulation followed by corner collapse. It could take days for a man to die so often what the soldier would do would bring a club and break the criminals legs which caused massive shock and expedited death.

I would aware of this but use their body was left lacrosse to rot.

But in some instances, the body was given to relatives or friends for burial.

That's what the Lord went through for you and me, the prophet Amos who live 750 years before the birth of Christ prophesied in Amos chapter 8 verse nine and listen to this in that day, declares the Sovereign Lord, I will make the sun go down. It soon and darken the earth and brawled daylight when at noon. What day was Amos pointing to. He was pointing to the very day Jesus was crucified on the cross. More 1533 says that the six hour noon, darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour essay for three hours during the middle of the day, darkness covered the land of Israel. This was truly a miracle of God and is reminiscent of what God did when he sent the plague of darkness over the land of Egypt during the time of Moses so wanted God to send this darkness was because darkness and is symbolic of our separation from God, who is the source of light in life.

You see things need light to live.

We need light to live and Jesus said what I am the light of the world you want to have life, and I don't just mean eternal life. I mean life peace right now. Jesus is the only source of that. But during this hour darkness cover the land.

I believe this is because in this very moment. I believe in Jesus took upon himself, your sins, and my sense, Paul writes in second cravings. Chapter 5 verse 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for asserted in him we might become the righteousness of God me.

This is such an important first to understand, see, Jesus never committed any sin. He was the perfect Lamb of God. However, at the cross, Jesus took our sins upon himself and he endured the punishment that we deserve.

Namely death and eternal separation from God.

However, by marvelous exchange. God made it possible man for you and us to receive Christ righteousness. Jesus took upon himself our sins so that we can have fellowship with God, who becomes our heavenly father. The moment we believe and L against the older I get, the more I love that fellowship with heavenly father, I found myself talking to them all day long and he walks with me and he talks with me and he tells me I am his own to visit the gospel. This would across all about, and this is what this hour is the most important hour in the history of the world. In Psalm 22 verse one David writes, my God, my God, why have you forsaken me in that hour when Jesus when darkness cover the land Jesus product was heavenly father, my God, my God, why have you forsaken me this, I don't believe is one so much of physical pain. Even though Jesus was certainly going through excruciating pain, but I will probably was the pain of the soul that feels forsaken Tim Keller. Is this moment in his book, Kings Cross. He writes this forsaken us this loss was between the father in the sun who would love each other from all eternity. This level is infinitely long absolutely perfect and Jesus was losing it.

Jesus was being cut out of the dance Jesus the maker of the world was being unmade. Why because Jesus was experiencing our judgment day, my God, my God, why do you forsaken me it wasn't a rhetorical question but answer is for you and for me, for us, Jesus was forsaken Bill of Rights by God, so that we would never be for second, the judgment that should have fallen on us.

Instead, fail Jesus, the prophet Isaiah said 700 years before Christ was born in the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all see this was the father's will to literally crush his son with our sin. Danny Aiken makes an interesting point. Why did Jesus save my God, instead of my father because this one moment in all of time and eternity. Jesus views himself and knows himself not as the father-son but as the centers sacrifice more 1537 says with a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.

This final cry was no doubt the crowd was recorded was in John chapter 19 verse 30 when Jesus said it is what finished and with that final Crimea, the price have been paid. Atonement was accomplished the work of salvation was done. The door to heaven now stood open the father of all product was now stood looking at the horizon waiting to see if anyone was coming home and guess what, he still waiting and he still looking so nasty is he still waiting for you if you come home to the father see that moment when Jesus took his last breath. The veil in the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. Any dumpster that veil was about this thickest width of your hand. It was tall and it was wide elicited team of horses could not pull it apart. Johnny Depp and in that moment it was torn in two from top to bottom doors behind that they'll the ark of the covenant. It was the most holy place. It was were God's presence resided and no one was allowed to come behind that veil except for the high priest and he can only do it once a year on the day of atonement, and he had to be made holy first she sees nothing unholy can come to the presence of God. The reason that veil was torn in two from top to bottom is salvation is solely a work of God in the moment Jesus cried out, it is finished, he gives access to his heavenly father said we could come to our heavenly father and asked him to forgive us. Because of his son and we can cry out father. Religion says what do Jesus is what done because it is finished from the hour when he credit it is finished. Until this hour men right now. The door to heaven still open and Jesus meant I can see him right there right now crying out to us. Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, if I'm gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For he says my yoke is easy and my burden is light to a gas is nothing better than having rest for your soul is indescribable is the peace that passes all understanding stories been told that centers ago on the south coast of China have on a hill overlooking certain harbor Portuguese settlers building enormous cathedral. They believe that it would whether time and they placed upon the front wall. This cathedral a massive bronze cross that stood high up into the sky. Not too many years later a Catherine came and got something the work swept away man's handiwork and all that cathedral was pushed into the ocean down the hill it went. Except for that bronze cross stood high.

Years later there was a ship wreck at a little beyond that harbor some God. But if you lift one of the man that was hanging onto wreckage from the ship was moving up and down. You can almost see them going along with the crest of the ocean as a swells will moving and he became disoriented in the as you can imagine frightened you know where land was, but if you would come up on top of the crest of the way he could see that cross in the distance, even though it was tiny at first. That man's name was Sir John Bowring. We finally made it to land and live to tell the story he wrote the now famous hymn in the cross of Christ I glory, towering over the wrecks of time.

All the light of sacred story gathers round its head sublime when the woes of life or takes even fears annoy never show the cross forsaken me load it glows with peace and joy. What was John Bowring trying to communicate is trying to tell us me that we have across the cross we have an altar when all of life seems to crushing on top of us like like right now we just need to look at the cross and remember the empty turn and call to mind the fact that Amanda stated on that cross, nor in the time but… He stands ready and able to give us victory meant to whatever you going through Jesus want to give you victory which have to come to the cross yet to place your trust in him, you have to much believe your mom but you gotta believe in your heart and in a world of darkness, like ours, but we need to do men for such a time as this is way to fix our eyes upon Jesus who is the author and perfecter of our faith before the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and set down at the right hand of the of God. Consider him think about Jesus who endured such opposition from sinful men so that we will not grow weary and lose heart (heavenly father, thank you for your word for.

Thank you so much for tickets online that we know that your says you are in control of all things. History truly is your history will we look forward to the day when you return. In the meantime their God help us never lose sight of the cross helps to keep us in the cross all the way to the finish line. Laura pray for each man here that you will draw them to yourself that you given that piece that soul rest that we sing about tonight, they might know that they belong to you.

There salvation is secure in your name I pray, being a Christian is not about being religious but about having a dynamic alive relationship with Jesus Christ.

You've been listening to finding purpose with pastor Russ Sanders local triangle ministry glorifying God by helping men and their purpose for living.

You can discover more about finding your purpose in life by checking out the resources@purpose.net connect to finding purpose on Facebook pastor Russ would also like to extend a special invitation for you to join him in over 300 other local tribal men study God's word together every Tuesday night at 7 PM in downtown Raleigh. Find out more finding purpose.net. This is the Truth Network